French Champion Caroline Mani once again took the holeshot at day 2 of the Cincinnati3 Cyclocross Festival and then made the first split into the select group that included unstoppable US National Champion Katie Compton (Rabobank Giant). Then, Mani took over the front when another rider bobbled and still Compton was behind. In the end, Compton powered away with Mani winning the battle with Sue Butler (River City Bicycles) for second place.

Caroline Mani takes second at Cincy3 day 2

“I’m the holeshot year. It’s crazy, I don’t know what happened to me, maybe it’s America.” she said. Previously Mani has trouble with the start. ”

Doing an internship at SRAM, Mani makes no bones about it, she wants to come back to live and race in the USA once her schooling is over. She continued, “Every weekend I’m more sad because I feel oh no only four races, only three but I really hope, I have some contacts so maybe I’ll be able to live here next year.”

Mani liked having Compton behind her. “Yeah, it’s pretty good, you feel like ‘wow Katie Compton is staying in my wheel, unbelievable’. I cared about my line but I was like ‘okay I have to watch Katie because she’s staying behind but when she will decide to attack you have to be on her wheel. Meredith (Miller) did a mistake, she crashed, I was behind her. I saw Compton and oh she’s attacking right now so I just tried to catch her, I think I did a good job. She had a gap and I was just behind her and I tried to keep the same gap, and I attacked Sue Butler in the corner because I know I’m faster in the corner.”

She added about racing with Compton, “It’s really good to race with her because she does what she wants so it’s good to try to follow her. So when you finish not far, you’re really happy because it means you’re good, you’re fast. So it’s a good test, she’s a really awesome rider and Sue did a good job too. So I tried to be in front of maybe all the first lap because like I told the others, I need to be fast on the first lap because I was bad. Good race, really fast, good feeling not like yesterday.”